Radio Help and FAQ

Listening Online

What can I listen to online?
You can find two kinds of audio on the KQED Radio Web site:
1. Live Stream - An online version of our on-air broadcast.
2. Audio Archives - Selected past KQED programs that you can listen to on demand.

What does "live stream" mean?
The live stream is the online equivalent of our on-air broadcast. It is a live, continuous "stream" of digital audio that can be accessed online through the Internet. The live stream is simultaneous with our on-air broadcast. For the most part, the online stream is identical to our on-air broadcast. (There are a few programs that we cannot stream online.)

What programs are available in the KQED Radio Archives?
Seven KQED-produced programs are currently being archived on a regular basis. The links below will take you directly to the programs' archive pages:

Forum - twice-daily; available from October 1, 2001
The California Report - daily Mon-Fri and weekly for the 30-minute Friday magazine; available from November 1, 2001
Health Dialogues - monthly; available from January 2002
KQED Radio News - daily; available from October 2002
Perspectives - weekly; available from September 2002
QUEST Radio - weekly; available from February 2002
The Do List - weekly; available from April 2008

Are audio archives available for other programs that I hear on KQED?
Yes, you can find archives of many programs from National Public Radio and Public Radio International. There is not one combined archive for all public radio programs, but we've done our best to gather links to many of the most popular programs with audio archives to help you find what you're looking for.

How do I listen online?
You can listen online to KQED Radio's live stream using our inline player, which requires the Flash plug-in. (The Flash plug-in is installed by default in most web browsers.) If you prefer, you can also listen to the live stream in iTunes, RealPlayer, Windows Media Player, QuickTime, WinAmp, or a variety of other players: simply click the "listen via an audio player" link on our Listen Live page to open our stream in your default audio application. If clicking this link does not open your preferred program, you need to change your system's default player for MP3 files. To make this change, open the preferences or options window within your preferred player application, then find and select the option to make it the default player for MP3 files.

You can listen to the KQED Radio Archives using Real Media Player. Look for the speaker icon and links that say "Listen." When you click on one of these links, it will open up a small window that will play the audio file and display information on the audio clip. If the clip doesn't play from this window, look for a link that says "No audio? Click here." You may have to scroll down to see it.

What kind of hardware and software do I need to listen online?
Hardware: You need a computer with a sound card and either speakers or headphones.

Software: You'll need Real Player for the audio archives and for the live stream you can use Real Player, Windows Media Player or QuickTime, all of which are available for free and can be downloaded online.

Where can I get the software to listen to the live online stream?
Download Real Media Player
Download Windows Media Player
Download QuickTime Player
Download iTunes

Why can't I listen to some programs online?
Some programs can't be streamed online due to licensing or copyright restrictions and are replaced in the online stream with BBC World Service. These programs are:
Washington Week
Wall Street Week
Selected Shorts
NPR Playhouse

Podcasts

What is a podcast?
A podcast is a downloadable audio file that can be delivered automatically to your computer. You can play the file whenever you like from your hard drive, or transfer it to an iPod or other portable audio player and listen wherever you like.

How do I get a podcast?
To get podcasts, you will first have to get podcasting software. There are a number of options, many of which are free. Here are some of the more popular options:

Macintosh:
iTunes
Odeo
Juice Receiver

Windows:
iTunes
Odeo
Open Media Network
iPodder
Doppler

Once you have installed the podcast software, you will need to set up subscriptions to the feeds that you would like to receive. With most software, you will select "Add a New Feed," then paste in the URL of the podcast feed.

What are the URLs for the KQED podcasts?
On our OnDemand page you may get the complete list of KQED podcasts along with instructions on how to subscribe and use the podcasts.

How are the podcasts different from the audio archives?
There are two main differences:

1. When you get a podcast, you download the audio file to your computer. You do not have to be connected to the Internet to listen to the file. This allows you to transfer it to a portable audio player and listen whenever and wherever you like. In contrast, when you listen to a file in our audio archives, you are playing the file from our server. You do not actually download the file. This means that you have to be connected to the Internet when you want to listen to the file, and you cannot transfer it to a portable audio player.

2. Podcasts use a protocol called RSS that allows you to "subscribe" to a particular program, so that you can receive new installments automatically. In contrast, you have to visit our site each time you want to find a new installment in our audio archives.

Tuning In

How can I improve my reception?
See our Reception Tips page for detailed information on how to improve your reception.

Can I listen to any KQED Radio programs on other radio stations?
Yes. KQED syndicates the The California Report, which airs on public radio stations throughout California.

KQED Public Radio also operates KQEI 89.3FM in Sacramento, which broadcasts KQED's news and information service in its entirety.

Radio Programs

How do I find out what's on?
You can find out what programs are coming up by looking at our Weekly Schedule. See the Radio Programs page for specifics (topics, stories, guests) on particular programs. On the Radio Programs page, you can click on the name of any program to visit the program's web site.

When does a particular show air?
See our Weekly Schedule for air times. In the weekly schedule, you can click on the name of any program to visit the program's web site.

Who was that guest on Forum?
You can find a listing of guests from the current week on the Forum site.

What was that song I heard between programs?
The music you hear comes to us built into the program, it is not "between programs" and KQED Public Radio does not play a note of music. Most radio programs list the music "Buttons" as part of the program archive. There is not a list anywhere, you must go to the individual program's website. Best way to find the program is go to  KQED Radio Daily Schedule. Scroll down to the time you were listening, then click on the program name. On the next page, look right to a dark box with "Visit the program's Oofficial website," click on that. Some programs even let you listen again until you find the right piece.

Where do the programs on KQED Radio come from?
The programs on KQED Radio come from a number of sources:

KQED - KQED Public Radio produces six regular programs here in our San Francisco studio, and also co-produces and presents some Bay Area programs.
NPR - Many of the national programs on KQED come from NPR, a national production and distribution network.
PRI - KQED broadcasts several programs from PRI, a national distribution network. These programs are produced at different public radio stations around the country, then distributed to KQED by PRI.
PBS - KQED Radio broadcasts the audio from some PBS programs, including the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.
Independent Productions - Some programs on KQED are independently produced by public radio stations or nonprofit organizations.

What programs does KQED produce?
KQED produces:
KQED Radio News - Local Northern California news, broadcast weekdays in brief segments during Morning Edition and throughout the day.
The California Report - Statewide news and public affairs commentary. Includes 8-minute segments broadcast weekday mornings and a half-hour newsmagazine broadcast Friday afternoons. Carried by public radio stations around California.
Forum - Live call-in talk show, broadcast daily in two one-hour segments.
Perspectives - Public affairs commentary by community members, broadcast daily during Morning Edition and Weekend Edition.
QUEST Radio - Weekly program focusing on the people behind the science and environmental issues that are changing the way we live.
The Do List - Discusses the hottest tickets and must-see shows in Northern California. Airs Fridays at 6:30am and 8:30am.

KQED co-produces and presents:
Commonwealth Club
City Arts and Lectures
It's Your World
Youth Radio

What is NPR?
NPR (National Public Radio) is a nonprofit company that produces and distributes public radio programming. Many NPR programs (including Morning Edition, Talk of the Nation and All Things Considered) are produced at NPR's headquarters in Washington, DC. Other NPR programs (including Fresh Air and Car Talk) are produced at public radio stations around the country and are then distributed by NPR. NPR News also maintains bureaus and correspondents around the world.

What NPR programs does KQED broadcast?
KQED Radio airs the following programs from NPR:

All Things Considered
Car Talk
Fresh Air with Terry Gross
Latino USA
Living on Earth
Morning Edition
National Press Club
NPR Playhouse
On the Media
Says You!
Selected Shorts
Talk of the Nation
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
Weekend All Things Considered
Weekend Edition - Saturday
Weekend Edition - Sunday

What is PRI?
PRI (Public Radio International) is a distribution network for public radio programming. PRI distributes programs produced by public radio stations around the country. PRI is associated with Minnesota Public Radio, a network that produces many of the programs distributed by PRI.

What PRI programs does KQED broadcast?
KQED Radio airs the following programs from PRI:

BBC World Service
Marketplace
A Prairie Home Companion
Marketplace Money
This American Life
To The Best of Our Knowledge
The World

What is the BBC?
The BBC is the British Broadcasting Corporation. KQED Radio airs BBC World Service, the BBC's worldwide news program. The program is broadcast from London in 43 languages, and is distributed in the U.S. by PRI.

How can I get a tape, CD or transcript of a program?
You can order tapes or CDs of KQED programs by sending a check along with the name, date and time of the program you'd like. See our Tapes and CDs page for prices and mailing addresses. KQED does not offer written transcripts.

Inside KQED Radio

Whose voice am I listening to?
The KQED Radio Staff page includes information on KQED Radio's announcers, hosts, reporters and producers.

Where are you located?
KQED is located at 2601 Mariposa Street in San Francisco. See our Interactive Map for driving directions and information on public transportation.

Can I work there?
Please see KQED's job page for information on current openings and the application process. Several KQED Radio programs also accept interns. See KQED's internship page for more information.

Can I volunteer there?
Please see KQED's volunteer page for information on volunteering.

Community Calendar

What is the Community Calendar?
The Community Calendar is KQED Public Radio's program of on-air public service announcements. The Community Calendar emphasizes low-cost Northern California events with general admissions of no more than $25 per ticket. Events include lectures, musical performances, exhibitions and other gatherings.

Can I add my event to the calendar?
We welcome your press releases, fact sheets and event calendars. They will be edited to meet KQED specifications. KQED Radio does not air announcements for events that are strictly fundraisers, walk-a-thons, auctions, book sales, or any other type of solicitation for volunteers or funds. KQED Radio airs five or six selected listings per day. Listings are aired either the night before the event or in the early afternoon on the day of the event.

What information do I need to give you?
Events will be considered for air if the following information is included:

Name of event and sponsoring organization.
Date and time of event. For multi-performance events, please include date and time of each individual performance.
Street address of event.
Description of event and phonetic pronunciation of names.
Ticket or admission costs for event or each performance. Cost must not exceed $25 per person, general admission. Tickets must be available at the door. We do not air phone numbers for reservations or advance ticket sales.
Weekday telephone number of contact person available between 9am and 5pm.

Where do I send my event information?

PLEASE SEND NOTICE 3 WEEKS IN ADANCE OF THE EVENT DATE

E-mail: psa@kqed.org
Fax: (415) 553-2241
Mail: Community Calendar
KQED Radio
2601 Mariposa St.
San Francisco, CA 94110

Contacting KQED Radio

How can I contact a specific program?
See the Contact Us page for the email and postal mail addresses of KQED programs. See the NPR web site for the email addresses of NPR programs.

How do I call in to a talk show?
Here are the call-in numbers for the talk shows aired on KQED:

Forum: 415-553-2227 or 1-866-SF-FORUM (1-866-733-6786)
Talk of the Nation: 1-800-989-TALK (1-800-989-8255)
Car Talk: 1-888-CAR-TALK (1-888-227-8255)